Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is a recognised world-class allrounder and captain capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Durham
Ben’s first-class debut came in March 2010, by May, he had scored his maiden century. In the next match Ben made 161* and highlighted his undoubted talent.
Ben’s highest score for Durham was hit back in 2011 when posting 185. He returned his best bowling figures of 7-67 in 2014.
England
After encouraging performances, Ben was selected for England’s ODI and T20 teams in 2011.
He had to wait until 2013 before receiving his Test call-up for the 2013-2014 Ashes tour to Australia. While England went down in the series, Ben’s performances were unyielding and scoring his maiden Test century.
In the 2015-2016 series in South Africa Ben gave a Player of the Match performance when hitting 238 in the second Test at Newlands. Furthermore, Ben entered the record books with the second fastest double-century in Test cricket.
2017, saw another Player of the Match awarded to Ben when returning career-best Test figures of 6-22 against the West Indies at Lords.
Ben’s performances were key to England becoming 2019 ODI World Cup Champions. His batting was at times heroic and his fielding breathtaking. Who can forget the final over of the Lord’s final defeat of New Zealand? Through sheer will-power and pure batting talent Ben first tied the game and then, with Jos Buttler, laid the foundations for victory during the Super Over.
Ben’s 2019 heroics did not end with the World Cup. In August, he yet again made the headlines. When his second innings 135*steered England to a most unlikely third Ashes Test victory, at Headingley.
Cricket in 2020 did not escapee the restrictions on life brought about by COVID. With a re-arranged schedule, England played a three Test series against the West Indies.
In the opening Test, Ben captained England for the first time. During the Test, he became just the fifth player to score 4000 Test runs and take 150 wickets
By the second Test Joe Root was back leading the Three Lions, and Ben was back scoring runs. His first innings 176 followed by 78* significantly assisting England to claim a 113 run win.
A series defeat to West Indies and a run of nine Tests without a win, led to Joe Root stepping down as England captain in April 2022. Later the same month, Ben was appointed as Test captain. In tandem with new Head Coach Brendon McCullum, Ben achieved 10 wins from 13 Tests during his first 12 months in charge.
On 18 July 2022, Ben’s retirement from ODIs was announced. His last match, at the time, was the opening ODI against South Africa at Chester-le-Street on the following day.
With the 2023 World Cup approaching, it was confirmed in September that Ben would be returning to ODI action as a specialist batter. He was named in the squad for the home series against New Zealand in the same month. After scoring his twenty-second ODI half-century in the opening fixture Ben went on to thump 182 runs off 128 balls in the third game. This innings made Ben England’s highest scorer in a single ODI innings.
Awards
2013 Cricket Writers Club Young Cricketer of the Year.
2016 Wisden name Ben as one of their 5 Cricketers of the Year.
2016 ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year.
2018 Wisden India Cricketer of the Year.
2019 The BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
2019 Awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.
2019 ICC Men’s Player of the Year.2019 ICC Men’s Test and ODI Teams of the Year.2020 ICC World Rankings: Ben Ranks Number 1 for the Male All-Rounder.
2020 Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2019.2020 ICC Men’s Test and ODI Teams of the Decade.
2021 Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2020.
2023 ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year.2023 ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year (Captain).
2023 Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2022.
Ambassador Roles and Sponsors
adidas – long-term sponsorship association.
Gunn & Moore ‑ bat sponsor.
Red Bull ‑ Ben is a Red Bull ambassador.
Wimpole Clinic – Ben is an ambassador for the Wimpole Clinic.
Profile Update: 21/03/24
